35 Useful Serbian Phrases To Get You Started Speaking Serbian Today

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I want to share with you 35 useful Serbian phrases to help you get started speaking Serbian today.

My name is Cam and I started learning Serbian a few years ago. In the beginning, I didn’t speak much Serbian, but over the years I became proficient in the system of the language which then helped me with my fluency.  Today, I speak Serbian with my friends and family on a daily basis and I continue to learn. It’s a wonderful feeling being able to express yourself in a new language and connecting with people and cultures you love. If you are thinking about learning Serbian, I encourage you to do it. Achieving proficiency in any language requires learning, commitment, and lots of practice but it can be done! If you are a beginner learner or someone who is thinking about learning Serbian, phrases and expressions are a good place to start. Let’s begin!

Formal & Informal Speech in Serbian

It’s important to know that the Serbian language has two forms of speech: Formal and Informal. Formal Speech is used when talking to people older than you or with people you don’t know. People in Serbia use Formal Speech to show respect to elders, and in some instances to keep a working relationship “professional”. Informal Speech is used for casual conversations with people you know or with people who are younger than you.

I talk about this more in these two videos – Serbian Formal & Informal Speech Part 1  and Serbian Formal & Informal Speech Part 2

Now that we have covered these important points, let us jump into the useful Serbian phrases.

“Hello” in Serbian

“Hello” in Serbian is Zdravo. This informal greeting is related to the world “zdravlje” which means “health”. So when you are saying zdravo in Serbian to someone, you are literally wishing them good health. A more formal greeting would be dobar dan which means “good day” or “good afternoon”.

“How are you?” in Serbian

“How are you?” in informal Serbian is Kako si? and in formal Serbian is Kako ste?

“I’m Good” / “I’m Not Good” in Serbian

To reply to Kako si? or Kako ste? you can say either Dobro sam for “I’m good” or Nisam dobro for “I’m not good”.

“Please” in Serbian

Molim is “please” in Serbian. If you want to be more polite and formal you can say Molim Vas.

“Thank You” in Serbian

In Serbian, “thank you” is Hvala. And again, if you want to be more polite and formal you can say Hvala Vam.

“You’re Welcome” in Serbian

Nema na čemu is “You’re welcome”. The context behind this phrase in Serbian is “There is nothing for you to thank me for”.

“Good Morning” in Serbian

“Good morning” in Serbian is Dobro jutro. You will often hear the abbreviated version of this greeting in Serbia as ‘bro jutro! where “do” (from “dobro”) is left out.

“Good Night” in Serbian

“Good night” in Serbian is Laku noć. This literally means “Have a light night”.

“Goodbye” in Serbian

There are two ways to say “Goodbye” in Serbian. First is zbogom which is similar to “farewell” in English, and it’s used when you are saying goodbye to a person you’re not going to see for a very long time.

The second way to say “goodbye” in Serbian is doviđenja. This is a formal phrase and it’s used in everyday situations for example when you leave a store or any public place.

“What is your name?” in Serbian

If you’ve introduced yourself and want to ask what the other person’s name is, you can use this formal phrase Kako se zovete? or  to say this informally to a person younger than you, you could say Kako se zoveš? To answer this question you can simply say Zovem se… and say your name. For example: Zovem se Marko.

Some other useful Serbian phrases for eating out:

“I’d like to see the menu, please” – Želeo bih da vidim meni, molim Vas if you are a man, and Želela bih da vidim meni, molim Vas if you are a woman

“I’ll take this” – Uzeću ovo

“Give me that (one), please” – Dajte mi to, molim Vas

“How much is it?” – Koliko košta?

“The bill/check, please” – Račun, molim Vas

“Could you help me?” – Možete li da mi pomognete? (formal) and Možeš li da mi pomogneš? (informal)

You may also like this video – My Favorite 5 Words In Serbian

Now you’ve learned how to introduce yourself and some of the most common Serbian phrases and expressions! I hope these 35 useful Serbian phrases help you with your Serbian. Share this post with a friend who would like to learn Serbian, and give yourself the gift of learning more. If you are thinking about learning Serbian, one of the best ways is to learn with language podcasts – short audio & video lessons for fast learning with ease. These podcasts explain to you the system of the language so you can start making sentences of your own, as well as provide you with more useful phrases you can start using right away.

I highly recommend you check out Serbian Language Podcast.  They have a Serbian Online Course and it will take you from absolute beginner to advanced. Click here to learn more about it. Cheers to your language learning journey!

Learn Serbian with our Animated Series “Cam Speaks Serbian”

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Have you ever wanted to learn practical Serbian that you can use every day?

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a conversation in Serbian? Have you ever imagined yourself going on a fun-filled journey to Serbia (and beyond) speaking in Serbian? Have you ever wanted to learn practical Serbian phrases that you can use every day? Well now you can with the Animated Series “Cam Speaks Serbian” by Serbian Language Podcast.

1. What is “Cam Speaks Serbian”?

“Cam Speaks Serbian” is an Animated Series for learning Serbian created by Serbian Language Podcast. It’s a delightful journey with Cam The Broadcaster as he, accompanied by native Serbian speakers, goes on a journey to Serbia…and beyond. This Animated Series is designed to help get you motivated to learn the Serbian language and show you that proficiency is possible even if you are not a native Serbian speaker.

2. What is “Cam Speaks Serbian” about?

The “Cam Speaks Serbian” Animated Series is the story of Cam, a Serbian language learner, and his journey to meet with friends in Serbia. He has to navigate through Serbia speaking in Serbian with his dear friends. The episodes are action-packed, fun-filled, and most importantly, are practical and useful.

3. Where can I watch “Cam Speaks Serbian”?

You can watch the Animated Series “Cam Speaks Serbian” on our YouTube Channel. Here is the full playlist of all the “Cam Speaks Serbian” Episodes. Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel, give us a like, and leave us a comment.

4. How will “Cam Speaks Serbian” help me learn Serbian?

One of the best features of the series is that it contains translations in both Serbian and English. As you watch the series notice the thought bubbles that appear when a speaker is talking. These thought bubbles have the written Serbian of what is being spoken (in the Serbian Latin alphabet), enabling you to practice your listening and reading skills at the same time. If you get a little lost or want some help knowing what is being said, then read the English subtitles at the bottom of the screen. “Cam Speaks Serbian” will help you with conversational Serbian regardless of your level.

The second thing is that every episode is designed to give you a chance to practice your Serbian. In the second part of every episode,  the English subtitles disappear and you can listen and read along (via the character thought bubbles) to the same dialogue/experience the second time only in Serbian. Now you can see what you were able to retain from your first hearing of the dialogue. This is a GREAT way to practice building your fluency and comfort with Serbian!

5. How long are the “Cam Speaks Serbian” episodes?

Each episode is roughly 2-3 minutes long making it the perfect place to start your Serbian language learning journey. It’s low stakes, incredibly fun, humorous, and filled with vocabulary and situational dialogues you can start using today.

6. What is the difference between watching “Cam Speaks Serbian” on YoutTube and on SerbianLanguagePodcast.com?

For the Members of our website (SerbianLanguagePodcast.com) we have the Downloadable Transcripts available for every episode of “Cam Speaks Serbian”. The Transcript contains a Line-by-Line Dialogue in Serbian and English, Vocabulary Sheet, and the Episode Q&A (Questions and Answers) in Serbian and English.

As an added bonus, Premium Members of the Serbian Language Podcast website can access the plethora of other resources we offer, such as Lesson Videos, Grammar Tools, Video Podcasts, Serbian Vlogs, etc).

Watch Episode 01 “Cam Speaks Serbian”

Watch the episodes and learn Serbian with our Animated Series “Cam Speaks Serbian”. We hope you like it and we look forward to having you accompany us on the journey of a lifetime…in Serbian!

7 Serbian Learning Tips from Cam “The Broadcaster”

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Thinking about learning Serbian?

Here are my 7 Serbian learning tips that can help you if you are learning the Serbian language.

If you have ever embarked on a foreign language learning journey, or are getting started for the first time, then I am certain you will agree that language learning is a massive undertaking. Notice my choice of words here. I didn’t say it was hard. I didn’t say it was easy. I didn’t say it was impossible. I said it was massive.

So what exactly do I mean by that? After all, we use the word massive to describe so many things (often with a negative connotation). Seldom is it a word we use to describe language learning. But all things considered, I do think the word “massive” most aptly describes the journey you are on as a language learner. AND, this is a positive thing that you should be proud of. Allow me to explain:

Learning a language requires, among other attributes and aspects, 7 key components:

1. Curiosity about something brand new

When you learn a language you have to exit your own sense of understanding about the world around you and the symbols (through language) you are accustomed to interpreting it through. This deep sense of curiosity instills compassion and a spirit of inquiry that can fuel motivation, connection, and the attainment of your goals.

2. Introspection (progress monitoring and being honest with yourself)

Your Serbian language learning journey will necessitate that you become very honest with yourself. But be careful to make sure that you are continuing to have positive self-talk. Do not be critical of yourself. Additionally, introspection and the ability to look deep within yourself will foster the habit of progress monitoring. How amazing it is when you can track your progress and watch yourself grow in new ways! Your mind is constantly at work, even when you sleep, and language learning will accompany you (even in your dreams)

****Watch the Broadcast “Dreaming in Serbian” to learn more. Before long, the Serbian language will become a part of you. This means you will have more to share, more to give, and more to aspire to.

3. Willingness to experience temporary defeat while learning Serbian

Learning Serbian is not about perfection. It is, however, about the constant pursuit of improvement. You will encounter and experience temporary defeats. For example, you may struggle to pronounce certain words or understand certain grammatical concepts. This is not a failure. Failure is when you refuse to try. Failure is when you give up. Failure is when you tell yourself you can’t do something.

With this in mind, redefine for yourself what it means to fail. Note the difference between failure and temporary defeat. Temporary defeat is when you encounter adversity. And as the adage goes, “Adversity introduces you to yourself”. Assume a growth mindset, reminding yourself that your abilities today are not reflective of your abilities tomorrow.

4. Patience, in tandem with perseverance

As you delve deeper into your language studies you will need to remain patient. Remember, you are learning new ways of expressing symbols and meanings. Wow! Be patient and remember that this is a journey more akin to a marathon than a sprint. And what a noble and powerful journey to be on. Arm yourself with perseverance and resilience. Your temporary defeats and hardships will mold you into a better person IF you use them as fuel for growth rather than reasons to disengage. Be resilient. Be proud of yourself. You CAN do this.

5. Planning

There is no arrival of a final destination without a plan for how you are going to get there. Don’t spin about aimlessly. Make a plan for how you are going to learn Serbian. Need help? Watch “The Broadcast” by Serbian Language Podcast where I explain the study and planning tips and tricks that will propel you towards greater comfort and fluency in Serbian.

6. The establishment of a goal (rooted in the “why”)

Know your “why”. Why do you want to learn Serbian? Make a list of reasons. When you find yourself encountering moments of difficulty review your list. Write your goal down on a piece of paper and look at it from time to time. Your goal is your North Star. Don’t lose sight of it. And stay encouraged. Each step you take is taking you closer to it even when it doesn’t feel like it. Trust and KNOW that it is.

7. A language that has the sound of history

Practice your skills. Get on the Serbian Language Podcast website and develop your skills. Do the practice questions at the end of the Lesson Videos. Pause the videos during the “Audio Podcasts” when you want to internalize what you are learning. Above all, assume a disciplined stance as a learner. After all, that’s what you are, a learner. Be a disciplined learner and take your goal seriously. If you do this, you will be rewarded with progress and achievement.

I call these 7 components the Powerful 7 because if you work in harmony with these they will power you towards the achievement of your goals. And here is a big secret: all that you apply to language learning you can apply to live. This is why I often tell people that language learning makes you a better person, a global citizen, and a better thinker.

With all of this in mind, ask yourself what is holding you back and then look at the Powerful 7 to see if there is a key component you want to grow in. I think you will find that as you approach learning Serbian from the prism of self-improvement and an opportunity for growth, you will renew your motivation for starting or carrying on in your language learning journey. What’s more, you are not alone. Join us and learn with us as we bring the Serbian language live to the world. You won’t regret it!

One of the local customs that I find most appealing and insightful is the custom of taking a small gift whenever you are invited into someone’s home. It can be a package of coffee, a snack, or even a thank you card. But Serbs don’t like to visit you empty-handed. Isn’t that amazing? And now that you know this, make sure you reciprocate and take a small gift if you are invited to someone’s home. No pressure, but it’s a nice gesture and a way to show that you know something about the culture.

Learn Serbian Formal and Informal Speech

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Learn Serbian using Formal and Informal Speech

Learn Serbian Formal and Informal Speech. Unlike English, Serbian language has two forms of speaking Informal and Formal. In the English language, we use words like “Sir” or “Ma’am” to indicate reverence, respect, and formality. Serbian is different, there is a little more to it. But don’t worry, you can learn it. It just requires changing your mindset.

Politeness is built into the grammatical structure of the Serbian language. Politeness in English is conveyed through the addition of words (i.e. “Sir”). While this may seem like a quantum leap, it’s actually logical and systematic. Come to think of it, Serbian is a very logical and systematic language.

Don’t believe what the naysayers tell you about how hard it is. They just don’t know the system. You need to know the system, and trust me…you can learn it.

When to use formal speech

You will use formal speech in Serbian to speak to elders, professionals (i.e. teachers, doctors, lawyers etc.), and strangers or people you don’t know that well. You wouldn’t need to use formal speech to speak to a twelve-year old. 

I made this video – Speaking in Serbian – Formal and Informal Speech (Part 1)

Informal Speech in Serbian

Informal Serbian uses the “Ti” form, which you learned in the pronouns listed above. It’s a familiar form. You can use it when speaking with someone you know, or with someone who has asked you to speak in “ti”. Serbs will do this. Many times I have spoken with someone in “Vi” (Polite form) and they have asked me to speak to them in “Ti” and that’s a way of closing the relational distance and establishing that “we’re cool” and can speak informally.

However, even if you have met an elder many times it is ALWAYS polite to use the “Vi” form. Using the “Vi” form shows that you, as a person, have 3 things:

1. Class
2. Respect
3. Cultural Awareness

I would never speak with my father-in-law in “Ti” form (which is the familiar form). Though we are very familiar, I speak to him in “Vi” form because I want him to know how much I respect him. After all, he raised my wife. Speaking to him in “Ti” form would be the equivalent of me saying to him, “What’s up homie?”, which is wildly inappropriate. So in short, just know that the “Ti” form is familiar in Serbian and the “Vi” form is polite.

Watch this Video – Speaking in Serbian – Formal and Informal Speech (Part 2)

So what is Formal Speech in Serbian?

Formal speech means using a form known as the “Vi” form. This form is the same form that is used when speaking to more than one person (i.e. 2nd person plural) but it does not carry the same meaning. When you use the “Vi” form to speak to an individual it simply carries the meaning of respect, not the meaning of speaking to that person as if they were more than one person.

To help you, let’s have a look at personal pronouns:

• Ja – means “I” or “me”
• Ti – means “you” (informal…we will get to this later)
• On – means “he”
• Ona – means “she”
• Ono – means “it” (i.e. Serbian has 3 genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter)
• Mi – means “we” or “us”
• Vi – means “you” (polite) or “you” plural (i.e. when speaking to more than one person
• Oni – means “they” (masculine)
• One – means “they” (feminine)
• Ona – means “they” (neuter). I know you are probably thinking “this is the same as ‘she’ “. It’s not, and context within a sentence will save you.

In short about “Ti & Vi” form

Now that we have seen all of the pronouns for Serbian we can better understand where the “Vi” form comes from. But that’s not all. The “Vi” form is also a means by which you conjugate verbs. For example, if I wanted to say “Excuse me Sir”, I would say “Izvinite gospodine” or I can just say “Izvinite“. This same sentence in informal Serbian would be “Izvini”. Notice how the “Vi” form carries a “te” ending, as in “izvinite” and the informal expression does not. This is a clue that the “Vi” form is being used. When you start hearing “te” at the end of verbs, (i.e. “jedite”, which is the formal way to say “eat”) you know right away that someone is speaking to you in a more polite and formal way.

Learning Serbian is one of the joys of my life. It’s such a fascinating language. It has the sound of history. In Serbian language you will hear influences from many regional languages, and the colloquial expressions speak to the beauty of Serbian culture.

Do you want to learn more about how all of this works in spoken Serbian?

Do you want to learn how to conjugate verbs across the tenses and in accordance with formal vs informal? If so, then I encourage you to visit Serbian Language Podcast and check out The Ultimate Serbian Online Course with the Premium Content for learning Serbian grammar – Formal & Informal Speech in Serbian.  All you need to go from beginner to advanced has been assembled for you.

If you finished reading this blog then pat yourself on the back. You have taken an important step in acting on your interest in learning the Serbian language. Get plugged in, study Serbian, and enjoy the journey. Ćao!

The Best Study Plan for Learning Serbian Language as a Self-Learner

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Why you need a study plan for learning Serbian language as a self-searner?

A good study plan for learning Serbian language as a self-learner can help you get the best results out of your hard work. It’s important to say that having a dream is one thing and having a goal is another. A dream simply requires a desire. A goal requires a plan. Learning the Serbian language, or any language for that matter is about consistency, resilience, determination, strategic planning, and the constant infusion of joy.

Joy

That’s right, joy is as important a part of goal attainment as anything else! And where does joy come from? One word: Progress!

Learning Online & Self-Learning

The good news is that given the times we live in you no longer need to travel to a brick-and-mortar building and sit in classes. In fact, this can be quite time consuming and expensive in addition to the fact that much of what you might learn or be exposed to might be in conflict with how you actually learn. It may also require you to participate in group classes that struggle to provide the individualized attention and support you need.

A Swedish University (Linkoping University) released an article expressing why self-learning is the best learning and they are making enhancements to provide students with more self-learning experiences. Wow! Even universities are having to acknowledge the fact that learning is very much an individual pursuit. The key is providing support and resources to fuel the pursuit. At Serbian Language Podcast, that is exactly what we are doing.

SerbianLanguagePodcast.com

We want to empower you to power your Serbian language learning journey forward, and we are here to support you every step of the way by assembling for you everything you need to reach your goal of speaking Serbian at SerbianLanguagePodcast.com. And it’s a great goal to have!

Watch this video!

Set your goal – This is key

Why do you want to learn Serbian? How far would you like to go? We highly recommend easing yourself into the language with the end goal of fluency in mind. Why? Because “why not?”! If you shoot for the stars and hit the moon that’s still pretty good. Go for gold! And the best part is, you can absolutely do it. Any barriers you think you may have in reaching your goal of fluency in the Serbian language are only in your mind, not your abilities.

Calendar your study time

You will often hear the expression “work-life balance” or “time management strategies”. These terms, while informative, are actually incomplete. You can’t balance work and life and you can’t manage time. What you can do is integrate work and life as well as integrate your goals that exist outside of what you do to pay the bills.

Additionally, you can’t manage time. The clock will tick without your sayso. What you can do is manage your activities. This is the key to calendaring your study time. It’s all about activity management. Do you know how you spend your time? If you are not using a calendar you likely do not. Set up a calendar and start calendaring your time to study Serbian.

We recommend starting with 10-20 minutes a day. Trust me, you have 20 minutes a day to study Serbian but you have to MAKE the time for it or the clock will tick away with total disregard for your goals. Don’t wait too long to take action, start calendaring your study time as soon as you finish reading this article while the idea is still fresh in your mind.

I made this video where I talk about my Serbian language learning process:

Work on the hard parts first and the easy parts second

Whatever is challenging for you, do that first. This way as your mind and attention span start to fatigue you can reward yourself with easier activities towards the end of your study time. Where to start? It depends on your goal, but here is what we recommend:

At the Serbian Language Podcast, you can Sign Up for The Ultimate Serbian Online Course and start with our Beginner Dialogue Series to warm your mind up to the Serbian language. In the Beginner Dialogue Series, you will learn how to have basic everyday conversations in both formal and informal Serbian. Review these for a few minutes.

From here transition into our Lesson Videos where we will take you on the fun-filled journey of learning the “why” behind Serbian Grammar. The Lesson Videos will take you from absolute beginner to advanced and are sequential, meaning you can study them in order and improve your Serbian one video at a time. We went to great lengths to make the lesson videos fun, simple, and progressive.

And don’t forget to do your homework/practice exercises (with our Downloadable Study Guides) after watching each video. Our downloadable study guides will help you internalize what you are learning and help you see where you are at in your comprehension. If you are having difficulty with the exercises then please watch the video again and identify where your area of growth is.  Then try the exercises in the study guides again. You will be happy to know that we have made a downloadable study guide for all of our lesson videos (more than 100!) to ensure you have ample opportunities to practice and apply what you are learning.

Watch one lesson video per day to start. Lesson videos are typically around 10 minutes long. And “voila!” you have studied Serbian for 20 minutes. How cool is that?!

When you are taking a break from learning, watch one of our Serbian Vlogs and read along with the aid of our English and Serbian subtitles.

Get back on track when life happens

We all know that life happens and can cause us to lose site of our goals. If you go a day or two without studying don’t beat yourself up. It means you are human, and that’s okay. Trust me. But don’t linger in the “no study zone” for too long. In fact, after you miss a day you need to look at your calendar and ensure that the following you day you don’t miss your study time. This will keep you motivated, relaxed, driven, and on the road to progress…which will bring you joy!

Motivation

Motivation is key, but motivation will only come through action. As people, we often think we need the motivation to do something. This is incomplete. What we really need is the discipline to take the first step. The motivation to continue comes AFTER the first step has been taken. Remember this for your language learning journey and apply the lessons you are learning from studying Serbian to your life.

Language Learning & Life

And this is the best part: language learning is not just about what you do to acquire language skills. It’s about who you have to become as a person to position yourself towards the achievement of your goals. This is why language learning is one of the best “self help” tools you can ever engage with.

Hopefully, this video will help you with your “ups & down” when learning Serbian:

Keep Serbian in your ear

This is a crucial point. Whatever you listen to you will think about. It is not a coincidence that our ears are connected to our head. Our ears and eyes are portals into the mind so keeping Serbian in your ear will keep it in your mind. Listen to a Serbian song. Or listen to the plethora of resources we have on the Serbian Language Podcast website, such as our Audio Stories. Let our Serbian storytellers serenade you. If you have the time to follow along, you can even download the English-Serbian Transcripts so you can practice your reading, listening, and vocabulary building.

Start small in the beginning

Start small in the beginning. Focus on one thing at the time and then slowly implement the other things (we mentioned here) to improve your Serbian. Grow slow and steady and you will be on your way to create the best study plan for learning Serbian language as a self-learner.

In this video I share with you my best tips for learning Serbian:

Have fun

Learning Serbian is a journey. Appreciate the small moments of progress you experience. If you hear one word that you recognize, or complete one exercise correctly, or even if you just complete your 20 minutes of study take the time to pat yourself on the back. Give yourself credit for who you are. Give yourself credit for what you are doing. And most importantly, give yourself credit for who you are becoming. You are now a Serbian language learner. Welcome to the community. Learn Serbian. Have fun!

The Biggest Secret to Learning Serbian Language

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What is the biggest secret to learning Serbian and how can you improve?

So, you want to learn Serbian?

Well, let me tell you a big secret for learning Serbian: if you apply what you will read in this blog you will be light-years ahead in terms of reaching your goal. And before I go any further, a quick disclaimer: This will sound somewhat complicated, but if that’s the case just remember that MOST things you encounter for the first time seem complicated.

Remember when you first learned how to ride a bike or had to remember your math times tables (i.e. 6 X 7= 42)? Or how about learning how to drive, or your first time learning how to swim…that all seemed complicated too right? With Serbian, it’s kind of the same thing. With constant and correct practice, the right strategy, a relaxed state of mind, and motivation to learn, Serbian will become more and more familiar to you.

In short, don’t get bogged down by the technicality of what I’m about to explain. With time it will come. But it won’t come if you give up before you give yourself the chance to grasp it.

Here are some of my best tips for learning Serbian: 

Okay, so are you ready to read the biggest secret to learning the Serbian Language?

Here it is: Study vocabulary words, such as adjective-noun pairs together and across all the cases (meaning the 7 cases that make up the Serbian Declension System). If you’re wondering “What’s the declension system?” then allow me to briefly explain.

Unlike some languages where a noun-adjective pair exists in one form (i.e. “good man” or “buen hombre” in Spanish) Serbian noun-adjective pairs work a little differently. And for all of you non-grammarians out there, as a reminder an adjective describes a noun.

Serbian Declensions

So let me explain further about declensions. The Serbian Declension System (which is comprised of 7 cases) exists to express meaning. As meaning is expressed across the 7 cases nouns, adjectives, pronouns, and numbers are declined, meaning they change from their original form in accordance with gender, number, and the meaning the speaker wishes to express.

So let’s go back to the big secret for learning Serbian and what this means for studying adjective-noun pairs together across the cases. We can do this by way of example. Let’s take the adjective-noun pair “dobar čovek” which means “good man” in Serbian. If you only learn how to say “dobar čovek” and nothing more, guess what: you have only learned how to say “good man” in 1st case. This is incomplete because “good man” must be “declined” across the 7 cases, which express 7 different meanings.

For example, If I wanted to say “I am a good man” I would say, “Ja sam dobar čovek”. This would be first case or Nominative.

If I wanted to say “I got this from a good man” I would say “Dobio sam ovo od dobrog čoveka”. This is second case or Genitive.

If I wanted to say “I gave this to a good man” I would say “Dao sam ovo dobrom čoveku”. This is 3rd case or Dative.

And there are 7 cases. I think you get the point.

Notice how in each example the adjective-noun pair “dobar čovek” looks different. This is because it has been declined in accordance with the case that expresses the meaning conveyed. This is how the Serbian Declension System works and learning adjective-noun pairs across all 7 tenses will rapidly drive your learning to a higher level.

All 7 Cases

And don’t despair if this sounds complicated. It’s not…if you practice and stay relaxed as you practice. Your brain just needs some time to make the adjustment, but trust that it WILL make it.  Learning Serbian declensions is just like learning your math times tables. Before long you will be a pro.

What’s important to remember though is that learning one case of an adjective-noun pair won’t be very helpful because when you speak in Serbian you will need to navigate through all 7 cases of the Serbian Declension System (which is quite logical, contrary to popular opinion). This is why people get frustrated when learning Serbian. They don’t know how to make sense of this and they learn hundreds of so-called vocab words in 1st case forgetting they need to learn them across all 7 cases.

Fortunately for you, The Ultimate Serbian Online Course at Serbian Language Podcast breaks all of this down in a simple and effective way so you can start speaking like a pro. And this brings us back to the biggest secret to learning the Serbian language: learn adjective-noun pairs together and across the 7 cases. If you make this a habit and stick with it, then you are on the fast track to achieving your goal of speaking Serbian with accuracy, fluency, and style. Learn Serbian. Have fun!

My Top 10 Favorite Things about Serbia

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Here are some of my favorite things about Serbia and the Serbian language.

When I think about Serbia I get nostalgic. I can see the cobblestone streets of Skadarlija (in Belgrade), the beautiful architecture in the town square, and I can even feel the warm and welcoming energy of the people. Serbia truly is a special place. Here are my top 10 favorite things about Serbia:

1. The people

The people are superb. Truly! They are friendly to foreigners and they will help you with whatever you need. They will practice Serbian with you, even if you’re a beginner. They will share with you whatever they have. In short, they will make you feel right at home.

2. The language

Serbian language is one of the most fascinatingly beautiful languages in the world. It has influences from other Slavic languages, Turkish, and even Italian. Whoa! Serbian language has the sound of its colorful history. If you speak a little Serbian be prepared to be celebrated. Serbs love their language and are very appreciative of any effort you show.

But don’t feel any pressure, they speak English in most major cities and will be happy to speak with you in the language you are most comfortable in without judgment.

You might like this video: 

3. It’s peaceful

I feel so relaxed when I’m in Serbia. Whether I’m in a smaller town like Vrsac, a medium-sized town like Novi Sad, or the capital Belgrade, I’m always at ease.

There is a peacefulness that abounds in the city. Hardly any crime. Hardly any drama. Just people going about their day…with joy. It’s a wonderful environment to be in to just “chill”. Want to party all night and then walk back to your hotel room at 4am? No problem. You won’t be hassled or robbed. And while you are out make sure you stop by a food stand and grab a bite to eat. You won’t be the only one awake, or the only one who’s hungry.

4. It is not expensive to have a GREAT time

It’s a beautiful thing when you can go out on the town for an evening and only manage to spend $20. With that amount of money you will have eaten, had an adult beverage, seen a movie, and perused the local shops and museums in Belgrade. Try doing that in America. It would cost you so much more!

In Serbia, everything is affordable and this is true even for most locals. You can go to the town square, get a lemonade, and talk with friends for hours without waiters or waitresses hassling you to buy something else. In Serbia, people understand that having a great time SHOULDN’T be expensive. People appreciate the simple things. They go for walks, sit out at parks, and enjoy the company of friends and family. Priceless!

I’m always amazed at how little I spend when I go out. I have to actually work hard to spend a lot of money because when I’m in Serbia I actually have a great time doing not much at all. In the consumer-driven societies, many of us live in, Serbia is a breath of fresh air.

5. Going to the movies still costs $4

That’s right folks, going to the movies in Serbia still costs under $4. Talk about traveling back in time! Furthermore, you can do what I did and watch a movie in a large World War II era theater. But bring your jacket in the winter, there might not be heating. And bring a hand fan in the summer, there might not be air conditioning. But who cares!

And guess what: in some movie theaters in Serbia Operas, plays, and other performances are still performed there…when the movies aren’t showing. This practice goes back to the days when movie theaters first came to Serbia and they were housed in smaller “cultural centers” where locals gathered to socialize or enjoy the traditional dance performances, plays or other artistic events. Even today in suburban Serbia, some of these local “cultural centers” still share the same space with the movie theaters and people go there to buy tickets for different kinds of events.

6. Kalemegdan

A wonderful place to go for a walk and enjoy the sunset overlooking the two main rivers in Belgrade, Danube and Sava. Kalemegdan was built in 279 BC and reconstructed by the Emperor Justinian in 535 AD, and its the Belgrade Fortress that sits at the confluence of the Danube and Sava river.Legend has it that Attila the Hun is buried underneath it. Oh, and there is a club called Terasa where you can party on the rooftop of the fortress while listening to your favorite music and partying with locals. What?! Read about my trip to Kalemengdan with my Serbian wife.

7. In Belgrade the party starts at midnight and changes according to the seasons

In Serbia, the party starts at midnight. That’s right, clubs don’t even open until midnight, and they go all night long. But don’t worry, you can pre-game at one of the countless bars and lounges throughout the city

Furthermore, in Belgrade the club scene changes in accordance with the seasons. What do I mean? I mean that where you party in the summer is different from where you party in the winter. In the summer you party on boats on the Sava River, known as “Splavovi”. In the winter you party in the city. Now tell me that isn’t cool?! Check out the club Stefan Braun in the winter and Freestyler in the summer. You won’t regret it.

What it’s like being a Black Person in Serbia?

I’m often asked this question: What’s it like being a “Black Person” in Serbia? 

It’s quite a question. The answer, from my perspective, is not what most people think.

My name is Cam, and I started learning Serbian language when I met my Serbian wife who was my girlfriend at the time. Since then we lived together in many different countries and one of my favorite places is Serbia. Today, I’d like to share with you my experience of living in Serbia as a black person form the United States.

One of my favorite things about Serbia is Serbian people. They possess, generally speaking, a curiosity about other people and cultures in a very healthy way. Having had the pleasure of living in Serbia I can provide some unique insight into what the experience is like for people who, like myself, have African ancestry and aspire to travel to Serbia and engage with Serbian people. Here are 5 reasons why being a black person in Serbia is not only a “non-issue” but a benefit:

Serbs are friendly to foreigners and black people

Serbians love to see foreigners. They marvel at why we have an interest in Serbia. At present, Serbia is not a global tourist magnet…yet. As such, many Serbs never get the opportunity to see, let alone engage with, a black person. Interactions are friendly. I often tell people I felt safer and more at home in Serbia than I often feel in many parts of my own country: America.

Being a foreigner in Serbia is viewed as cool. And I agree with that sentiment. I think it takes a special person, regardless of race, to be interested in a country like Serbia and Serbs hold this view as well. This means when you’re a foreigner in Serbia you are especially appreciated for having an interest in the country and the people will make you feel right at home.

I can’t tell you how many times I walked down the streets of Belgrade, and other cities, and was greeted with a smile…a real smile that said “welcome”. People would often want to talk to me, especially the younger generation.

One of my favorite moments in Serbia

One of my favorite moments was playing basketball with some local guys. They invited me to play and we had the greatest time sharing our love of basketball and just talking the way real people do. I never once got the impression that I was being viewed as something less. If anything, me being “African-American” got me special treatment! They wanted to know if I needed anything, was I having a good experience in Serbia? Did I want to go partying with them later…etc?

In short, it took me literally a few hours to make 5 new Serbian friends. And when they discovered that I could speak some Serbian at an intermediate level they were blown away and only wanted to speak to me in Serbian so that I could practice. They called me “brate”, which means “brother”…a term of endearment only used among friends, not strangers…and we had only met minutes ago. Wow! I felt so loved and appreciated and grateful for their inclusion and warm hearts.

I bet you’re wondering if I partied with them. Yes I did, and it was awesome! I had a hard time trying to pay for drinks. That kind of camaraderie rarely happens in my home country.

I made this video about my experience with making friends in Serbia

If you guys want to connect with me, you can do so via Facebook and Instagram

Serbs love to hear what non-Serbs think about Serbia

Some common questions you will hear in Serbia are these: “How do you like it here?” “What’s your favorite food?” “What cities have you traveled to?”

Serbs are notorious for wanting to hear your thoughts on their country, but be prepared to be interrupted by another question while you attempt to answer the first. Hahaha! Word of advice, your responses should be a paragraph, not a novel. They just want to hear the essence of your sentiments, they are less interested in every detail and they can’t wait to ask the next question. It’s pretty hilarious but very sincere.

Serbs love to share

Serbs typically don’t have a lot. After all, it is still a developing country. That said, they are willing to share whatever they have and their grace in this respect is unmatched. They will share their belongings, food, alcohol, and more importantly…their time.

I remember getting lost one day and asking a woman where a restaurant was. Remember, I’m a medium-sized black guy walking up to a complete stranger asking for help. The result? She walked me to the restaurant and made sure I got there. Wow! There wasn’t any issue at all and we had a pleasant chat the whole way.

Serbs love to help out

Many Serbian men helped me out the same way too. I was working out at the gym and several guys came up to me and wanted to learn more about my training regiment and share theirs. They became my gym buddies. One day after a long workout I came out of the locker room and one of the guys had bought me a shake. The next day one of the guys invited me to a restaurant that his mom and dad own. They treated me to a meal and wouldn’t let me pay. Unreal right? Welcome to Serbia!

Serbs are hospitable and personable

One of the things you will notice right away about Serbian people is this: They are characters! Their language is very descriptive, at times vulgar, but always pleasantly real and “to the point”. If you ask someone in Serbia how they’re doing they will give you a real answer. I asked a guy once and he proceeded to tell me about how he had lost his job, didn’t have the money to take a trip over the summer, and he laughed while explaining this to me. It was an honest answer.

Serbs have an uncanny way of being open and real when engaging in day-to-day conversations. They aren’t fake or pretentious, they just speak what is on their mind and this encouraged me to do the same. This isn’t true everywhere. In many parts of America, I often feel we are programmed to give canned responses to real questions. Even if we aren’t doing well we will say that we are. Not the case in Serbia. If you ask a question be prepared to hear the real answer, and this is refreshing. Serbs are personable.

On the hospitality front, there is a custom in Serbia: If someone comes over to your house they will typically bring something like a bag of coffee, tea, or a bottle of wine or rakija (the local liquor). In Serbian culture, it’s viewed as impolite to visit guests empty-handed. Talk about a hospitable culture!

Much in the same way if you go over to someone’s house they will want to treat you to all they have. They will typically offer you a shot of rakija, “meze” (Serbian appetizer), remote control to the television so you can watch your favorite show etc. They want you to feel at home and enjoy the time spent with them. Like I said before, Serbs are very practical. It’s an amazing experience really.

Serbs don’t have a racially charged culture

Serbia does not have a racially charged culture in the same way that America does. This means their orientation about race is different. I was with a black friend of mine and there were some Serbs looking at us. My friend asked me, “Are they looking at us because we’re black?” My response: “We are interesting to them, it has less to do with race and more to do with curiosity”. I feel like as Americans we have to re-frame and re-train our brains to accept that many parts of the world, like Serbia, don’t have the same outlook on race as we do.

In Serbia they don’t have a history of enslaving black people. They don’t have a history of color-coded bathrooms and segregated schools based on the color of people’s skin. In short, they aren’t like us…and while I love America, this aspect of Serbia is beautifully freeing. Being a black person in Serbia for me was great.

Interracial dating

Interracial dating is also accepted and it goes both ways. This means whether you are a black man or woman you will be viewed as attractive and desirable to Serbs because they will be intrigued by your difference not put off by it. There are traditionalists everywhere, those who believe races shouldn’t mix, but this isn’t the dominating belief system at all in Serbia. In many ways, they are more advanced in this regard than Americans.

Serbian Core Values

In essence, what matters most to Serbs is that you are a good person. You can be any color in the rainbow, but just be a good person and you will be loved, respected, welcomed, and treated with hospitality. Being a black person in Serbia was awesome. You should go see for yourself…and that goes for everyone, not just black people. In Serbia all races are welcome. Thank you, Serbia for the experience of a lifetime!

Cheers!

8 Tips To Become Fluent in Serbian

An 8-Step Guide To Fluency

If you have ever studied a foreign language you have probably been asked this question: “Are you fluent?” But what does “fluency” actually mean?

For the purposes of this piece I describe fluency as the ability to comfortably navigate through critical aspects of a language with an emphasis on comfort, accuracy, and the ability to be creative within the spoken language…in speech and comprehension (oral and written).

Language Fluency

In short, becoming fluent in a language is more about developing and enhancing familiarity and comfort with a language (and its structure) than it is knowing every word in the dictionary. In fact, learning words by themselves absent a thorough understanding of the language’s structure will be more frustrating than helpful since the words will exist as desolate islands suspended in a great expanse. Learning the systems and structures of a language transforms those islands into archipelagos…connected interdependent units that compliment each other and create the possibility of cohesion and comprehension.

From the standpoint of language acquisition, it is the possession of a deep understanding of a language’s structure that leads to the internalization of the various “parts” that form a language. In mathematics we call this “numeracy”. In language-learning we of think of this as “fluency”.

Like any language, Serbian has its fair amount of grammatical components. But don’t despair, this only means learning is required. And with the right strategy the learning journey will be as fun as it is informative, and useful in helping you achieve your dream of speaking the Serbian language. But there are some things you should know and strategies you should employ if you want to develop fluency. With this in mind, here are 8 tips you should know and do to become fluent in the Serbian language:

1. Serbian gets easier with time

For those of you who have learned some Spanish, learning Serbian is nothing like learning Spanish. What do I mean? With Spanish, the beginning is not terribly difficult. It’s a phonetic language and the present tense verb conjugations and structure of the language is fairly intuitive. The difficulty with Spanish increases the more proficient you become. Mastering the Spanish Subjunctive Tenses across 14 verb tenses is a tall order. In essence, Spanish is simpler in the beginning. Now you might be thinking, “But isn’t that true for every language?” The answer is simple: No! Serbian is the complete opposite of Spanish because Serbian is very complex from the very beginning but gets significantly easier over time. The key to becoming a dynamic speaker of Serbian is to survive the beginning phases of learning. Stay relaxed and encouraged and know that Serbian will only get easier by the day.

2. Keep Serbian in your ear

Go to the Serbian Language Podcast Website and click on our “Audio Stories”, “Video Podcasts”, “Lesson Videos”, and “Vlogs”. Your goal should be to listen to Serbian for 10-20 minutes every day. That might sound like a lot at first, but that’s the equivalent of 5 songs on the radio. If you can make time to listen to 5 songs on the radio you can make time to listen to Serbian for 20 minutes. It can even be somewhat passive listening. You don’t have to hang on every word. You DO need to keep the language in your ear as much as possible though and let your brain do the heavy lifting for you. Join the Serbian Language Podcast , Sign up for their Ultimate Serbian Online Course and access these resources.

WATCH VIDEO: Video Podcast – Can You Speak Serbian? (Formal & Informal Serbian)

3. Learn key phrases and get familiar with the phonetics 

Since Serbian grammar, even on day one, does require the application of effort it’s important to build your curiosity about the language before you take a deeper plunge. Learn some key phrases and build some very basic communication skills in advance of learning the language structure, verb conjugations etc. In short, make sure you are having fun right away. All of the materials you need are on our website (available to you with a Free and Premium Membership) so don’t hesitate to get started. In fact, watch one of our Serbian vlogs in Serbian with subtitles in both English and Serbian! After several weeks you can sneak in a few lesson videos to educate yourself on phonics and the structure of the language which will help you make sense of the key Serbian phrases you are learning.

4. Internalize the purpose and structure of declensions

In brief, the Serbian declension system exists to express different meanings. This means words (except verbs and adverbs) change (*referred to as “declined”) in accordance with their usage and the meaning their usage carries. Let me explain this by way of example. Let’s take the noun-adjective pair “red apple” (crvena jabuka). I can say, “The red apple is delicious”- “Crvena jabuka je ukusna”. Notice how “crvena jabuka” doesn’t change. This is known as the First Case (also known as “Nominative”) which can be used as a subject in a sentence. But what if I wanted to say, “I want a little bit of red apple”? In Serbian that would be, “Ja hoću malo crvene jabuke”. Notice here how in this sentence “crvena jabuka” becomes “crvene jabuke”. Notice the “e” endings in “crvene jabuke”. The “e” endings are the result of “crvena jabuka” being declined as a Singular Feminine Adjective-Noun Pair in 2nd Case, known as “Genitive”. In order to say “I would like a little bit of red apple” we must use 2nd Case since 2nd Case can be used to express quantity. Also notice how the Adjective “red” “crvena” must be declined in the same Case as the Noun it describes, which is “apple” “jabuka”. This makes sense because in Serbian the Adjectives must always match the Nouns in Gender, Case and Number.  I could go on to explain all of the 7 Cases of the Serbian Declension System, but we cover all of this in our Lesson Video Series and I don’t want to overwhelm you here. In short, head over to the Serbian Language Podcast Website and Sign up for the Ultimate Serbian Online Course to watch all the Lesson Videos, and internalize the purpose and structure of the  7 Cases of the Serbian Declension System.

5. Acquire vocabulary and learn how to decline the words you are learning 

As stated above, make sure that you are not learning vocabulary words in isolation. Ensure that you are learning how to decline adjectives and nouns across the 7 cases of the Serbian declension system in accordance with gender (i.e. masculine, feminine, neuter) and quantity (singular and plural). Learning the Serbian declension system is very similar to learning your times tables in mathematics. There are patterns. Once you learn these patterns you will unlock the secret to speaking the Serbian language with fluency, accuracy, and style.

6. Learn Present Tense conjugations of the various verb types 

Serbian language builds off of itself. To form certain verb conjugations a knowledge of present tense conjugations is required. This means that if you learn the present tense you are learning the foundation upon which other tenses are influenced (Past Tense, Imperative etc.). This is what I mean when I say Serbian only gets easier. Your hardest day learning Serbian will be your first day. “Vremenom postaje lakše”. This means “With time it gets easier”.

7. Start applying Serbian grammatical concepts to your sentences 

Once you are able to conjugate verbs in the Present Tense and make complete sentences with nouns and adjectives using the declension system, you are now dangerously close to becoming fluent. Allow me to explain further. In order to make a sentence like “I want to watch a movie” in Serbian numerous grammatical concepts need to be understood. Again, this is not “hard”, there is just learning required. To say, “I want to watch a movie” we would say, “Ja hoću da gledam film”. Seems simple enough right…and it is, permitted you can conjugate verbs and decline the word “film” in its proper case. In this case the word “film” which is the same in both English and Serbian is declined in the 4th Case (Accusative) since the 4th Case can be used to express a Direct Object (required by the verb “gledati” which means “to watch”). Word “film” is the same in 1st Case Singular and the 4th Case Singular for Masculine Inanimate Nouns. “What do you want to watch?” “A film”. Film is the Direct Object, thus necessitating 4th Case.

8. Transfer prior knowledge across the tenses 

Once you acquire mastery speaking in the Present Tense all there is left to do is learn new verb conjugation patterns for Past Tense, Future Tense etc. and continue to build your vocabulary, remembering to practice declining new words as you learn them. In essence, once you master speaking in the Present Tense you are on the fast track to fluency.

Above all, don’t put too much pressure on yourself, have a great time, relax, be merry, and pat yourself on the back for being willing to learn about a language and culture different from your own.